Posts Tagged ‘medical alert systems’

The Benefits Of A Medical Alert System

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

In the event of urgent assistance being required, elderly or disabled people need a way to contact others, and a medical alert system (also known as a medipendant) is a device that allows them to do that. It provides timely, professional and beneficial help in a number of ways, and is more useful and more reliable than using a cell phone to call 911..

The first advantage that these devices have over cell phones is their convenience. They can be worn on the wrist like a watch, or hung around the neck; either being a better place than in a pocket, which can easily become inaccessible should someone fall awkwardly. They also lightweight and compact, even more so than the smallest of cell phones.

Robustness is another factor to consider. Dropping a cell phone from even waist height can cause it to become totally unusable, whereas a medical alert system could be dropped, for example, down the stairs without any damage being sustained to it. They are also waterproof, so taking them in the shower or bath is no problem whatsoever.

Battery life is another point on which a medical alert system is superior to a cell phone. A fully charged up cell phone may last for a day or two without needing to be re-charged. As for a medical alert system, its battery will last for around a year before needing to be re-charged again.

Another problem with cell phones is the size of the buttons, which are extremely small, making them difficult for people with unstable hands or poor sight to use. Compare that to a medical alert system, which has just a single large, easy to press button, which needs to only be pressed only once for a direct line of communication to be opened with a health care specialist.

On pressing the button, the user will not have to wait to speak to someone, as the call will be answered within seconds. There will be no rushing of the call either, and as much time can be spent explaining the situation as is necessary. It is literally like having a dedicated medical professional, who is also a friend, on hand 24 hours a day.

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For more information on medical alert systems, or to buy a medipendant, please visit http://www.TrueMedAlert.com

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What To look For In A Medical Alert System

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

It is a fact that people these days live longer. As they reach their later years, people are inevitably more likely to need the aid of others, yet they still want to keep their independence.

The majority of people do not feel comfortable being under the constant care of others. A compromise can be reached though. A way for elderly people to live as they wish, but to still have others come to their assistance in the case of an emergency, is through the use of medical alert systems.

So, what exactly is a medical alert system? Well, it gives the user a direct line of communication to a care specialist at all times - they simply need to press a button and then can speak with someone trained to deal with a wide range of situations and emergencies.

The difference between this service, and simply calling 911, is that a lot more flexibility is provided. By dialing 911, an ambulance will pretty much always need to be called out, but a medical alert system can be used for minor emergencies as well as serious ones. The user, as well as requesting an ambulance, can, for example, just call for advice, or ask that a doctor pay a visit the next day.

Many companies are offering medical alert systems, but what specifically they are offering is not the same, with some being much better for the purpose than others. Therefore, before making a decision on which one to opt for, answers to the following questions should be sought…

- Is it simple and easy to operate?

- Can the medical alert button, or pendant, be easily carried around?

- Does it have inbuilt two way communication?

- How wide is the area of coverage?

- Is the service available 24 hours a day, for every single day of the year?

- Is the response team made up of certified Emergency Medical Technicians?

- Does the service allow relatives or neighbors to be contacted through it?

- Will the service still be in operation in the event of a power failure or disaster?

- What languages can the call center operatives converse in?

All of these considerations are important, so do not be tempted to simply opt for the cheapest medical alert system. Spending a few dollars a month extra can really be a life saving decision.

Another point on cost, be sure to get full details on the type of service being signed-up for before making a commitment to it. Look for a medical alert system that does not require a long term contract, and which does not have any set-up or activation fees attached to it. A simple monthly subscription contract is ideal, one where the user is able to simply return the equipment at any time - no questions asked.

For more information on medical alert systems, or to buy an emergency alert, please visit http://www.TrueMedAlert.com

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